|
|
 |
| |
The production of Antigone at the Lion and Unicorn earlier this month was ‘deliberately sabotaged’ according to George Sallis |
The credits crunch! Theatre luvvies in coup d’etat drama
Pub stage company’s leading men embroiled in bitter war of words after takeover
LIES, betrayal, and sabotage by potato crisp – warring thespians at the Lion and Unicorn Theatre are embroiled in their own October Revolution after a producer staged a coup d’etat and declared the pub venue under his control.
While the original Russian revolution in 1917 involved armed Bolsheviks storming the Winter Palace, the overthrow at the fringe theatre in Gaisford Street, Kentish Town, was waged via Facebook and a campaign of vicious backstage rumours.
The revolt was uncovered a fortnight ago when the current artistic director, Victor Sobchak, was served a notice to quit within 28 days by the pub’s brewery.
George Sallis, manager of the Giant Olive theatre company who sub-let the space from Mr Sobchak, was named as his successor.
But Mr Sobchak, who founded the theatre six years ago, is refusing to go quietly into the dustbin of history.
A furious war of words has broken out between actors and theatre-goers loyal to the two men and the battle now looks set to spill into the law courts, with both sides seeking to sue the other for defamation, loss of earnings and unprofessional conduct.
Two “Save the Lion and Unicorn” protest groups with more than 200 Facebook members were removedfrom the social networking website last week after complaints of slander from Mr Sallis’s lawyers.
The rot had begun months earlier though, claimed Mr Sallis, when Mr Sobchak “deliberately sabotaged” his performance of the Greek tragedy Antigone by “eating crisps really loudly in the front row”.
Mr Sallis added: “They are calling me a cheat. They have orchestrated a lynchmob.
“And they called me an ‘estate agent turned actor’ – I have never been an estate agent.”
Mr Sobchak denied sabotage, saying the play had simply been “boring”.
“I’ve been in the business for 25 years and have directed over 2,000 plays. How can I be envious about what amateur people do? I was once prosecuted by the KGB for a play so I’m not afraid of a someone like George Sallis,” he added.
The two men first met when Mr Sobchak cast Mr Sallis, a former stock market trader, as a bank manager in a farce earlier this year.
Dumle Kogbara, another regular producer at the venue, said it was a “theatrical commune” which had soured due to the “rumblings of malcontent” between the two artists.
As heraldic beasts, the Lion and Unicorn famously never got on. The lion represented imperial power, while the unicorn was a rebellious creature.
Mr Sallis added: “I just wanted the theatre to work.
“I’m angry with Victor but it’s never been my intention to get rid of him. [The brewery] just want him to look after the venue, the actors and the landlords properly.”
Mr Sobchak’s parting shot was less merciful.
“It’s the October Revolution but you can’t compare him with Lenin – he’s just a looter who steals some diamonds and runs away,” he said. |
 |
|
|
|
Your comments:
Interesting read... worked with Sobchak on a show years back. Not an easy man - but bloody good director. As I remember, the man never touched junk food - and once banned an actor from rehearsals for eating inside the theatre.
I smell a rat with this Sallis bloke...
J. Howell
|
|
| |
|
|
|
